Some people say that they don't want to attend church services; they just want to occasionally sit in an empty church to pray. According to the Biblical definition of church, when the building is empty, the church isn't there. The church is (or ought to be) out putting into practice what they learned in the huddle.
But the church is full of hypocrites!
You may be surprised to know that I totally agree with this statement. I would define a hypocrite as someone who preaches one thing, but practices another. I've never met a human being who is not a hypocrite to some extent, present company included.
Here is an analogy from parenting: if you are a parent, are you always able to live up to the standards that you teach your children? Do your values change when you blow it? In my opinion, you will do a disservice to you children if you lower the bar for their behaviour because you occasionally miss the mark. I think that it would be better to admit that you made a mistake, that you confess your sins to God and receive forgiveness from Him, and that you will forgive them when (not if) they make a mistake. (Just make sure that your children receive realistic consequences for their mistakes - just like you do.)
Being a Christian is a life-long journey, and on any Sunday morning there are people in churches who are at various stages of that journey. Some are there because they realize there is something missing in their lives and they are seeking to find that something. Others are there because someone dragged them in against their will. Of the ones who consider themselves to be Christians, some are more Christ-like than others. Some are also trying harder to put their faith into practice than others. There may also be some who have the mistaken belief that they have inherited faith through their parents. God has no grandchildren - every person is individually adopted into God's family. It can (and should) be taught to our children, but faith is not hereditary.
In other words, we are all hypocrites. If you are seeking a church where everyone lives up to God's standards at all times, that church doesn't exist on this planet.
Would you settle for a church that worships a perfect God who was willing to sacrifice His only son to pay for the sins of His adopted children? Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. Come join us. There is room for another hypocrite.
